The Best Cheap 144Hz Monitors for Gaming (Under $250)

In this guide, we’ve taken a look at seven of the best cheap 144Hz monitors for gaming. All seven monitors come in at $250 or lower, making them perfect for budget-oriented gamers.

With the rise of eSports and competitive gaming, gamers everywhere are looking for as much of a competitive advantage over their opponents as possible. And, one way to gain an advantage is with a high refresh rate monitor that will allow you to get as high of a framerate as possible.

In the past, high refresh rate monitors came at a premium. However, in recent years, the price of higher refresh rate monitors have dropped and there are now quite a few cheap 144Hz monitors available. So, in this guide, we’re going to rate and review seven of the best 144Hz gaming monitors under $250.

Best Cheap 144Hz Monitor: Sceptre C275B-144MN 27″

While Sceptre isn’t as established of a brand as some of the other options on this list, their C275B-144MN 27″ monitor packs the biggest punch for the price you pay for it.

Coming in right at ~$250, the Sceptre C275B-144MN has the largest screen of the options on the list and it also has a curved display. Pair that with the fact that it has a 144Hz refresh rate, a 1ms response time, and is Freesync-ready, and you have a very solid gaming monitor for the price.

Ultimately, if you feel more comfortable going with a more well-known brand name, the BenQ XL2411P listed below might be a better option for you. However, it has a smaller screen and it doesn’t have a curved display.

Our Runner-Up: BenQ XL2411P 24″

BenQ is no stranger to making high-quality gaming monitors. And, their BenQ XL2411P 24″ 144Hz monitor is no exception.

While we did give the edge to the Sceptre C275B-144MN listed above because of its 27″ curved display, BenQ is the more established brand. And, so, if you feel more comfortable going with a brand that has been around a bit longer, then the XL2411P might be a better option for you.

Ultimately, the BenQ XL2411P is a solid all-around monitor that will give you an insanely high refresh rate, a nice 1080P display, and a 1ms response time, too.

Our Value Pick: Acer XFA240 24″

The Acer XFA240 24″ is our pick for the best value monitor on this list. Coming in at just under $200, the Acer XFA240 is a 144Hz 1080P monitor that won’t break the bank.

It is also Freesync-ready, has a 1ms response time, and it comes with built-in speakers, too.

All of those factors make it an insanely good value for the price it comes in at. So, if you’re looking for the best cheap 144Hz monitor—or just the best gaming monitor overall—under $200, then the Acer XFA240 is probably your best bet.

If you’re looking to save even more money, though, the Acer GN246HL list below comes in at about $20 less.

Cheapest 144Hz Monitor: Acer GN246HL 24″

If you need a 144Hz gaming monitor, but you are hoping to spend as little as possible in order to get one, your best bet is the Acer GN246HL.

It’s a 24″ monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. It doesn’t have built-in speakers, and it isn’t Freesync-ready like the Acer monitor listed above. However, for just $180, the GN246HL is the cheapest 144Hz monitor currently on the market.

In the end, the GN246HL proved that a 144Hz refresh rate doesn’t have to be something that is out of reach for the average consumer.

Honorable Mention #1: ViewSonic XG2402 24″

ViewSonic’s XG2402 is another worthy budget-friendly 144Hz monitor worth considering. It offers a very similar option to the BenQ XL2411P and Acer XFA240. And, while the Acer XFA240 comes in at a much more reasonable price, ViewSonic’s XG2402 is an option to consider if it goes on sale.

The XG2402 comes with a 24″ 1080P screen that has a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time. It also is Freesync ready, so you have an AMD Radeon graphics card you can take advantage of AMD’s adaptive sync technology.

Overall, we feel like there are better options on this list in terms of what you pay for what you get. But, if any of the XG2402’s features stand out to you in comparison to the other options, you likely won’t be disappointed in choosing it.

Honorable Mention #2: AOC G2460PF 24”

Honestly, AOC’s G2460PF offers a very similar monitor to our value pick, the Acer XFA240. Both are 24″ 144Hz monitors that come with Freesync, have 1ms response times, and come with built-in speakers.

And, both come in at right under $200. So, while we did choose the Acer XFA240 over this AOC G2460PF, the reality is that both will offer a very similar value.

We gave the nod to Acer’s monitor just based on the fact that Acer is a little bit more of an established brand. However, while AOC is newer, they are quickly establishing themselves as a go-to monitor brand.

So, if you like the design of the AOC monitor in comparison to the Acer monitor, or any other small feature like that stands out to you on the AOC G2460PF, then that’s the route you should go.

Honorable Mention #3: MSI Optix G24C 24″

While MSI isn’t well-established in the monitor market, they are a top brand in gaming desktops, laptops, motherboards, and graphics cards. So, it’s no surprise that they have a produced a quality 144Hz monitor in their Optix G24C.

In fact, there is probably a case to make for the Optix G24C being our top value pick. It comes in at just a few bucks more than both the Acer XFA240 and AOC G2460PF and has the same base features, But, unlike those two it has a curved panel.

So, if you value a curved panel over a flat panel, then the Optix G24C would be the better option for you.

The Optix G24C doesn’t come with Freesync, though, but rather comes with Adaptive Sync.

Overall, though, this is a great option from MSI and if you’re looking for an affordable 144Hz curved gaming monitor, this is the choice for you.

Are the Cheapest 144Hz Gaming Monitors Worth It?

There’s never been a better time than now to buy a 144Hz monitor. For under $250, the seven options above will give you the opportunity to pick up a solid gaming monitor that will help you gain an edge over the competition.

And, in reality, the best value options on this list come in at or just under $200, too. So, really, even gamers with tight budgets can now afford to grab a cheap 144Hz monitor. Just make sure that, if you are going to grab a 144Hz monitor, that you have a system that can accommodate it. At a minimum, you’ll probably want to go with an $800-$1000 gaming PC build in order to push one of the monitors on this list.

I was trying to use this guide to help me purchase a monitor and Sceptre C275B-144MN 27″ is advertised as being the best at the $250 mark but that sucker is Price: $343.78 on amazon today (11/26/2018) how the heck did it go up almost $100 in price in 6 months? Is the market really that unstable for PC components?

Hey Kyle, yeah, that’s kind of crazy. I don’t think that’s indivicative of the market at the moment—which is actually stablizing right now—but maybe just a pricing strategy on Sceptre’s end? You can get that monitor for ~$287 on Newegg. So a bit cheaper there.

The ViewSonic XG2702 27″ is probably the best option at the price if you want a 27″ 144Hz monitor at the moment.

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About Me

Hey, I’m Brent. I’ve been building computers and writing about building computers for a long time. I’m an avid gamer and tech enthusiast, too. On TechGuided.com and the Tech Guided YouTube channel, I review PC hardware, peripherals, and various tech products to help you find the right product for your needs. Have a question? Just leave one below on any of the posts on the site.